Macomb unveiled its initial plans for remaking the West Adams Street corridor more than a decade ago. Now the city is coming closer to completing the project.
The city is getting a more than $1 million state grant to pay for widening the sidewalks and repairing the road from Johnson Street to Charles Street. The city will also spend about $250,000 of its own money.
The city already paid out of its own pocket to upgrade the stretch from Lafayette to Johnson several years ago after the state rejected an earlier grant application.
Public Works Director Alice Ohrtmann thinks the state is granting money now because of the community’s economic status.
“We were classified as a low-to-moderate income community, and that tends to get us additional funding for projects like this,” she said, adding the city will receive more than it requested. “This was a pleasant surprise.”
She cautioned the project won’t happen overnight. She hoped design work will begin soon and that the project will go out to bid in 2023.
Chandler Park Improvements
Ohrtmann also said Macomb is waiting to see if it will receive a state grant to make upgrades to Chandler Park, including leveling off the interior sidewalks and widening the sidewalks that line the park’s perimeter.
“I think that being able to improve a lot of these areas that are visible to visitors really gives these visitors a better impression of Macomb and would encourage them to come back, especially around the university area. I think we really need to do our part to help beautify that area and the entryways into the university to help encourage students to come back,” she said.
Ohrtmann said the work would tie in with the improvements being made to the courthouse square.
The maximum available through this grant program is $3 million. Ohrtmann said the city will provide a local match of $500,000.
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